Colombo: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has reportedly resigned. It is reported that Mahinda has handed over his resignation letter to the President and his brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. But this has not been officially confirmed.
Protests against the Rajapaksa government are raging across Sri Lanka in the wake of the severe financial crisis. There is a severe shortage of food, fuel and other necessities. It is alleged that the government’s misguided policies led to such a financial crisis. Mahinda Rajapaksa will take over as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in 2019.
A weekend curfew was declared in Sri Lanka as part of a crackdown on protests against President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Police also took a police action against protesters who have violated the curfew. Authorities say 664 people have been arrested so far for violating the curfew.
On Saturday, the Sri Lankan government banned social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube.